For a unique dining experience at a casual and fun hamburger joint, visit Hamburger Mary’s in downtown Sacramento.

Hamburger Mary’s, located at 1630 J St., offers a wide variety of menu items including hamburgers, sandwiches, salads and many vegetarian options.

The casual yet fun decor is a hodgepodge of sorts. A mermaid hanging from the ceiling, a brightly painted wall of tigers and birds, old photographs of bicycles, a big screen TV in the bar area and a medium sized disco ball hanging from the ceiling all give Mary’s a distinctive atmosphere.

But what really stands out is the food. The menu prices are comparable to other casual dining places with prices ranging from approximately $7-$10.

I ordered the newly introduced Skippy Burger. It is a 1/3 pound beef burger with lettuce and tomato topped off with Skippy peanut butter on Hawaiian sweetbread. It didn’t sound tantalizing, but I was being bold and gave it a shot. I didn’t think the flavors of peanut butter and hamburger meat mixed well together, but it wasn’t all bad. Peanut butter fans will enjoy this burger.

The fries are hot and extra crispy. The spicy fries, seasoned with cayenne pepper and paprika, are appetizing. They are just mildly spicy and outstandingly flavorful.

My guest ordered the Capitol Burger. It is a 1/3 beef patty with bacon, grilled onions, jack and cheddar cheese, lettuce and tomato. The verdict on the Capitol Burger was that it was very tasty, but the onions were a bit overwhelming. Both burgers were large and served with a knife sticking from them to cut in half. They are large enough to fill you or to share.

Mary’s has a full bar with many cocktail options and its “world famous” Bloody Mary. We chose Anchorstein beer served on tap.

On Friday and Saturday nights, Mary’s offers karaoke for the 21 and up crowd. There is no cover, plenty of drink specials and the fun begins at 9 p.m.

The service at Mary’s was prompt, casual and friendly. The food was served hot and the beverages cold.

Overall, Mary’s is a fun and unfussy restaurant to visit. The food is good. The service is good. The drinks are good. And the ambience is good. Nothing about Mary’s is exceptional. Still, it is different from your average burger joint and offers a unique setting and different menu options from other restaurants.

Rating: 3 Stars

Total stars possible: 4

Amy Ball can be reached at [email protected]